A report released by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on Thursday revealed that the impact of weak Japanese Yen shock on inflation bigger than that from oil shock. The weakening of the JPY pushes up prices for wide range of goods services, thereby gives bigger boost to consumer inflation excluding fresh food, energy.
Key quotes
Impact of weak Yen shock on inflation bigger than that from oil shock.
Weak Yen pushes up prices for wide range of goods services, thereby gives bigger boost to consumer inflation excluding fresh food, energy.
Oil price rises put fairly big upward pressure on smaller number of goods related to energy, which means impact on CPI excluding fresh food, energy isn’t very big.
Weak Yen shock expands wage, profit margin and leads to increase in GDP deflater, while energy shock squeezes wage, profit margin and leads to decrease in GDP deflater.
Under risk scenario projecting elevated oil prices, weaker Yen, stock falls, real GDP forecasts will be -0.1% point to 0.2% point lower in fiscal 2026-2028 than BoJ’s median baseline projections.
Under risk scenario, core consumer inflation will overshoot significantly from BoJ’s median baseline projections, could hover around 3% in fiscal 2026, 2027.
Such overshoot of inflation could heighten medium-, long-term inflation expectations.
If there is big supply chain disruption, real GDP could undershoot sharply while bottlenecks could lead to non-linear rise in inflation.
BoJ will scrutinise various risk factors more than ever as growth, price developments could sharply deviate from its baseline projections depending on Middle East developments.
Market reaction
As of writing, the USD/JPY pair is up 0.02% on the day at 160.48.
EUR/JPY weakens as the Euro struggles amid rising risk aversion driven by Middle East tensions.
The European Central Bank is broadly expected to keep interest rates steady on Thursday.
The currency cross may rebound as the Yen weakens amid growing short positions.
EUR/JPY edges lower after four days of gains, trading around 187.20 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The currency cross depreciates as the risk-sensitive Euro (EUR) struggles amid increased risk aversion, which could be attributed to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump said the naval blockade on Iran will continue until a nuclear deal is secured, dismissing calls to reopen key routes and favoring economic pressure over military action. Iran warned of retaliation, accusing Washington of using coercion and destabilization tactics to force compliance.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday, in line with many global peers this week, while signaling that a rate hike, possibly as early as June, may be necessary to counter an energy-driven surge in consumer prices.
Any delay in tightening is likely to be brief, with investors anticipating a move in June followed by two additional hikes later this year, as fading prospects for peace in Iran keep oil prices elevated and nearing levels outlined in the ECB’s “adverse” scenario, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, downside pressure on EUR/JPY may be limited as the Japanese Yen (JPY) remains under strain, with traders increasingly building short positions on expectations that neither further rate hikes nor official intervention will offer meaningful near-term support.
Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed the central bank’s gradual tightening stance, though the yen continued to weaken. Verbal interventions from policymakers have also had limited impact, with Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama stating that authorities remain ready to step into foreign exchange markets at any time to stabilize the currency.
USD/JPY holds steady near 160.45 in Thursday’s early European session.
Fed held interest rates steady at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday; traders brace for the US Q1 GDP and Core PCE data.
Japan’s Katayama said authorities are on standby to take decisive action against speculative currency moves.
The USD/JPY pair steadies near a 21-month high of around 160.45 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. Traders prefer to wait on the sidelines as Japanese authorities are on high alert for intervention after the Japanese Yen (JPY) breached the psychological level.
The US Federal Reserve (Fed) kept the benchmark interest rate steady in a range between 3.50% and 3.75% at the April policy meeting on Wednesday. The Fed’s 8–4 decision to leave the rate unchanged was its most divided since 1992, drawing three dissents from officials who no longer think the bank should communicate a bias towards easing.
During the press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that near-term inflation expectations are rising, adding that he would stay on the Board of Governors for an indefinite period, even after his chairmanship ends. A hawkish Fed holding rates could provide some support to the Greenback against the JPY.
The preliminary reading of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter (Q1) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index inflation report for March will be the highlights later on Thursday.
On the other hand, potential intervention threats from Japanese officials might underpin the JPY and cap the upside for the pair. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama highlighted a “high sense of urgency” regarding speculative and weak-JPY moves driven by Middle East tensions.
USD/JPY nudges higher on Wednesday and reaches the 159.75 area.
The US Dollar remains buoyant on cautious markets ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decision.
Japanese Finance Minister Katayama threatened “decisive action” against speculative market moves.
The US Dollar (USD) nudges higher for the second consecutive day against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Wednesday, trading at 159.75 at the time of writing, with the key 160.00 level, considered a line in the sand for Tokyo intervention, coming closer.
The US Dollar keeps a moderate bullish trend against its main peers as investors brace for the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s two-day monetary policy meeting, due later today. The bank will, all but certainly, leave its benchmark interest rates unchanged in the 3.50%-3.75% range, with no monetary policy changes foreseen by the market until well into 2027.
Wednesday’s is highly likely to be the latest meeting with Jerome Powell as chairman, as his term ends on May 15, and former Governor Kevin Warsh has been nominated as his replacement. It is still to be seen, however, whether Powell remains on the Board of Governors or, as US President Donald Trump demanded, leaves the central bank.
In Japan, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) stood pat on rates, as expected, on Tuesday, but Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed their commitment to gradual monetary tightening. The positive impact on the Yen, however, was muted, as the comparatively low BoJ interest rates leave the Yen as the currency of choice for carry trade, consisting of borrowing low-yielding Yen to purchase higher-yielding currencies.
Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama warned Yen sellers before the BoJ decision on Tuesday, flagging a coordinated intervention with the US. Katayama said that Crude Oil volatility is spilling over the FX markets and affecting the broader economy, and assured that Japanese Authorities are ready to take decisive action against speculative activity.
The Japanese yen hovered around 159.6 per dollar in holiday trading on Wednesday, lingering near the critical 160 threshold even after the Bank of Japan delivered a hawkish hold this week. On Tuesday, the BOJ kept its policy rate unchanged at 0.75% as expected, while raising its inflation outlook and lowering its growth forecast for FY2026 to reflect the economic impact of the Middle East conflict. Notably, three of the nine policy board members supported a rate hike, underscoring growing concern over inflationary pressures tied to the Iran war. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda also reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to a gradual tightening trajectory, signaling that interest rates could continue to rise as economic, price, and financial conditions evolve. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that authorities stand ready to intervene in currency markets at any time to support the yen.
EUR/JPY falls as the Euro weakens amid rising risk aversion over uncertainty surrounding a potential Middle East ceasefire.
US officials say President Donald Trump has directed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran.
JPY remains firm amid BoJ rate-hike expectations and speculation about intervention to limit further currency weakness.
EUR/JPY edges lower after three days of gains, trading around 186.80 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The currency cross declines as the Euro (EUR) struggles amid heightened risk aversion driven by uncertainty over a potential ceasefire in the Middle East.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that US officials said President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran. The report noted that Trump chose to keep pressuring Iran’s economy and oil exports by restricting shipping to and from its ports. Sources added that he viewed alternative options, such as resuming bombing or disengaging from the conflict, as riskier than maintaining the blockade.
Traders turn their attention to the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate decision on Thursday, where markets expect a “hawkish hold” as policymakers weigh potential rate hikes in June or July. Analysts at Goldman Sachs anticipate two 25 basis point hikes in the coming months, starting in June and followed by another in September, which would lift the deposit rate back to 2.50%.
The EUR/JPY cross remains under pressure as the Japanese Yen (JPY) stays firm amid expectations of a near-term rate hike from the Bank of Japan, alongside speculation that authorities may intervene to curb further yen weakness.
However, the JPY has struggled to attract sustained buying interest despite the BoJ’s hawkish pause on Tuesday. Notably, three of the nine policy board members backed a rate hike, highlighting growing concern over inflation pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to gradual policy tightening, signaling that interest rates could continue to rise as economic, price, and financial conditions evolve. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that authorities stand ready to intervene in currency markets at any time to support the Yen.
The pair reached the lower limit of 1:1 structure at 215.14 Main trend on the pair remains upward
Recommendation:
Trade: Long GBPJPY at market price Target: 215.85, 216.30 Stop: 214.90
Opinion:
Looking at GBPJPY chart, one can observe that the price reached the key technical support today. This support is marked with the lower limit of 1:1 structure (green rectangles), as well as 200-period moving average. In addition the bullish candlestick pattern – pin bar appeared on the H1 chart. Should buyers manage to hold the price above the support at 215.14, another upward impulse may be on the cards. We recommend taking a long position on GBPJPY at market price with two targets: 215.85 and 216.30 We recommend placing a stop loss order at 214.90.
The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged at 0.75%, in line with market expectations, although the reaction of the USDJPY pair to the decision appears rather mixed. Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda spoke at a press conference, explaining the reasons behind maintaining the key interest rate at 0.75% during the April meeting. Rate hikes will continue in line with developments in the economy and inflation, with particular attention paid to the impact of the situation in the Middle East. The goal remains to achieve a stable 2% inflation rate, although Japan’s economic growth is expected to slow in 2026. Higher oil prices are likely to reduce corporate profits and households’ real income, although the economy will be supported by government measures such as fuel subsidies.
Key takeaways from the BoJ conference
The situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. Japan’s economy is recovering moderately, although some signs of weakness are visible. Economic growth is likely to slow in fiscal year 2026 due to developments in the Middle East. Close attention must be paid to how these developments affect financial markets, FX markets, as well as Japan’s economy and prices. There is also a need to carefully monitor the risk of inflation deviating significantly to the upside, which could negatively impact the economy. Real interest rates remain at very low levels. The BoJ will continue to raise rates and adjust the degree of monetary accommodation depending on economic activity, prices, and financial conditions. The timing and pace of adjustments will be assessed in the context of the impact of Middle East developments and the likelihood of achieving the baseline scenario. The decision was made by a 6–3 vote, with Nakagawa, Takata, and Tamura dissenting, as they proposed raising the rate to 1%.
Board members’ remarks
Tamura suggested including a statement that underlying inflation is in line with the target, while Takata proposed noting that CPI has already reached the target level. Both proposals were ultimately rejected. Additional comments Oil prices may have a stronger impact on inflation than before. The Bank needs more time to assess the effects of the Middle East situation. Underlying inflation is currently slightly below 2%. It is difficult to determine when the next rate hike will occur. Monetary policy will be conducted in a way that avoids falling “behind the curve.” The decision to hold rates reflects a lower probability of the baseline scenario being realized. The dissent of three board members highlights the difficulty of conducting monetary policy under current conditions. There is no immediate need to raise rates, but they may become necessary if supply shocks generate secondary effects. The risk of rising inflation could be a reason for rate hikes, though not the only one.
BoJ Quarterly Outlook Report
Real interest rates remain very low. Underlying inflation is expected to reach levels consistent with the 2% target in the second half of fiscal 2026 and in 2027. Risks to economic growth are tilted to the downside, while risks to inflation are tilted to the upside. Economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 but should moderately accelerate from 2027 onward. Rising oil prices are expected to affect both CPI and incomes.
BoJ forecastsCore CPI
2026: 2.8% (previously 1.9%)
2027: 2.3% (previously 2.0%)
2028: 2.0%
Real GDP
2026: 0.5% (previously 1.0%)
2027: 0.7% (previously 0.8%)
2028: 0.8%
Key risks highlighted by the BoJ
The BoJ noted that rising oil prices may now pass through more easily into the prices of goods and services than in the past. There is also a risk of stronger increases in food prices, particularly if higher raw material costs feed into production costs. The Bank pointed to the possibility of significant disruptions in global supply chains, which could materially affect the production activity of Japanese firms. The report also addressed artificial intelligence. Strong corporate investment in AI could support the global economy, but if it is not matched by profit growth, it may lead to adjustment pressures in asset markets. The BoJ also emphasized that exchange rate movements now have a greater impact on inflation than in the past, while trade policies implemented so far have partly altered the course of globalization. Medium- to long-term inflation expectations are rising moderately. USDJPY charts (H1, D1)
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